What's on in the area

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Feb - Mar 2009; Weekends only (various dates)

Cost: Various

Hours: 9 Feb-15 Mar: weekends only
15 Mar-2 Oct: daily
Opening hours vary according to season - please visit the park's website for details

Established in 1869, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has become one of Britain's top tourist attractions. More than seven million visitors every year flock to its restaurants, cafes, bars, themed shops and, most importantly, its huge range of rides and attractions.

The park prides itself on being the "Roller Coaster Capital of The World" and it's not hard to see why. Look out for the £12-million Pepsi Max Big One, the 210-foot, £2-million PlayStation - The Ride, the 360-degree loop Revolution and the high-speed, turbulent bobsleigh ride, Avalanche.

Children don't get left out - a smaller version of the ever-popular Log Flume, known as Beaver Creek, takes pride of place in the kids' own park, Funshineland, along with bungee trampolines, bumper cars, a monorail and a mini millennium dome.

The park is closed during the winter months of January to mid-February. It reopens at weekends from mid-February to mid-March and is then open daily from 15 March to 2 November.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

• Health & Leisure
• Bodysensual
• Leisurebreaks